Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) has confirmed her intention to remain an Independent for the foreseeable future, despite leaving the Democratic Party. In a recent pre-taped interview on CBS' “Face the Nation” with host Margaret Brennan, Sinema emphasized her commitment to ending increasing partisanship and polarization in the United States by maintaining her independent status.
The Arizona senator dismissed any possibility of joining the Republican Party, stating that both major political parties have resorted to extreme rhetoric and moved away from collaboration. She highlighted how bipartisan relationships were crucial in passing significant legislation such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Respect for Marriage Act, and Electoral Reform Count Act.
Sinema's decision to remain an independent candidate comes after she left the Democratic Party shortly following their celebrations about expanding their Senate majority. Despite opposition from herself and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) regarding filibuster reform, Democrats still managed multiple legislative victories under President Biden's administration.
If she decides to run for re-election in 2024 as an independent candidate, Sinema would face opposition from Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego and Republican Sheriff Mark Lamb—potentially creating a three-way race for Arizona's Senate seat.
During her tenure as a Democratic senator, Sinema often found herself at odds with party colleagues on various issues such as rejecting filibuster rule changes that could have helped pass significant voting rights bills last year.
Despite distancing herself from any party affiliation moving forward "absolutely," Sen. Sinema's campaign raised over $2.1 million during this year’s first quarter alone—with more than half coming from donors who contributed at least $3,300 each.
In conclusion: Senator Kyrsten Sinema is determined to maintain her independence while seeking ways to reduce partisanship within U.S politics—hoping that these actions will inspire positive change in the political climate.